The world tilts on its axis, leaving me reeling from her confession. For two long years, I was the victim to a monster and my mother allowed it to happen. She sat back while her daughter was violated in the most disgusting ways and she did nothing.
“You’re sorry?” I rise, pacing back and forth. My body vibrates as if it’s alive, electricity sparking through me. A thunderstorm wracks through me like it does to the ocean. The waves crash around me, pulling deeper into the abyss. Darkness.
“Please, EllBell,” she tries again, but I can’t.
This isn’t the woman I grew to love until my sixteenth birthday. I believed she was clueless because I needed her to be. My pain, my agony that ripped me apart for years was something my mother allowed to happen. Why? Was she so desperate for a man in her life?
“I hate you,” I tell the phone. The piece of plastic that doesn’t mean anything to me feels my wrath, and I hope deep down, my words seep over the line and into her heart. I want to make her pay as much as I wanted him to pay.
“Baby girl.” Her words only fuel me further, sending me into a dark rage. I don’t move anymore. I’m still. I’m calm. But inside my turmoil burns me.
“I’m not your fu*king baby girl,” I bite out angrily. “Do you understand me? I’m not your fu*king daughter.”
I am strong. I am strong. I am strong.
“Ella,” Dr. Hastings murmurs. Her hand lands on my shoulder in an attempt to calm me, but fury is the only thing I see. It blurs my vision.
Picking up the phone, I hold it to my ear. “If you ever come near me, ever try to contact me, I’ll kill you myself. I want nothing to do with you.” I press the end call button, meeting my doctor’s worried gaze. “I need another session.”
“I know.” She nods. “I’m sorry about...” Her words are sad, her tone softer than normal. She walks over to her desk. I watch her press the button for her receptionist. “Please send him in now. We’re done,” she speaks to the machine. Her gaze lifts to mine. “We’ll set another appointment for Friday. It will give you a day to mull over everything and I want to hear your thoughts on everything. From there, we’ll move on to healing.” Her coldness gives me strength. She’s good. I feel comfortable with her.
The door opens and Bennett stalks in. “You okay, sweetheart?” he questions worriedly.
I nod.
“Come here.” He opens his arms, waiting for me to take the step. They’ve each given me this, a choice. He and Carter have been there for me as I heal, as I find my footing again. Without needing to think too much about it, I fall into Bennett’s arms. I’m safe here. Warm. Loved.
“That’s it for today. You’re welcome to take her home.”
We make our way out of the office with my face buried in Bennett’s white button-up. My heart cracked open wide from my mother’s confession. I should’ve asked her why, but to be honest, I don’t want to know. I have nothing more to say to her. My life is here now. With the two men who have come to love me as much as I do them.
Carter
The apartment door opens, and Bennett and Ella step inside the space. Her face is a picture of pain and agony. I’m on my feet in seconds, wanting to be close to her, to hold her, but her hand flies up before I have time to take a step toward her.
“I need time.” Three small words that slam right into my chest. She leaves us staring at her retreating form as she makes her way straight to the bathroom which is just off the bedroom, locking the door and turning on the shower. I feel her sadness down to my bones.
“What the fu*k happened?” I turn to my best friend.
He shrugs in response. “No idea. She didn’t talk all the way home. She cried, sniffled, then something switched inside her. It’s as if she turned off her sadness and replaced it with anger.”
Our gazes lock in a standoff. I should’ve been there, but I needed to meet with my parents and their lawyer. I’ve proceeded in pressing charges against them both. We’re keeping it out of the media, but my father is going away for a very long fu*king time.
The fact that he knew what happened to Kat and did nothing only solidified my decision. He was more concerned about marring the Hamilton name. When Bennett’s father offered him a way out by sending Charles to America, my father took the easy route and ignored the fact that my uncle is a sick individual.
I know Bennett will want revenge on his father, and perhaps one day we’ll be able to get that. But for now, the focus is on my family. Learning that Charles blackmailed both Dad and James Ainsworth, I finally realize that I’m no longer a part of this family. I don’t want to be.
As for my mother, she’s leaving, heading back to Italy. Charles was her older brother, and it was his fault both of the women in my life had been hurt.
I want nothing to do with my parents. With the Hamilton or the Bianchi name. My uncle had always been Charles to us, but his real name was Carlo Bianchi, and that’s why Ella didn’t realize I was related to him. Not knowing my mother, she would’ve never guessed that a sick motherfu*ker like that was my family.
“What did the coppers say?”
“Dad is being put away. I don’t want him near me. He claimed that he was worried about losing the business, but it was James who used his contacts to get Charles out of the country.” I inform my best friend about his father’s shady dealings.
“I’m going to make sure he pays,” Bennett’s voice is steel—cold and harsh.
“We will.” My gaze meets his. “I have a choice to make,” I tell him, settling on the couch.
“What?” Bennett’s curious. He knows how much I respected my family. Even though my father pushed me to do shit I didn’t want to do, like study business when I wanted to do law, there was always love in my family, or so I thought.
“Do I sell Hamilton International, or do I keep it going?”
My best friend takes my hand, gripping it in his. The emotion in his expression is almost gentle, but there’s a seriousness that causes his jaw to tick with frustration.
“Do you want it? I mean, would you like to take it over and run it by yourself?”
His thumb swirls over my palm, calming me. For years we’ve played, had fun. This is the first time Bennett’s touch is more than just us having fun. This time I realize I’ve always loved him, more than a friend.
“No,” I respond, finding my confidence in what I want to do. When you spend your life being trained to be someone and find out it was all a lie, it’s jarring. “I’m going to move on. I’ve spoken to a lawyer. We can sell the company and I can use the money to start something new. Something without their imprint on it.”
Bennett opens his mouth to respond, but the bathroom door flies open, and our princess walks out, looking refreshed, new. Dressed in a white fluffy robe and nothing else. Her hair is wet, hanging down her back.
“Are you okay?” My question causes her to glance at me, then nod. A small smile tugs at her lips. It doesn’t look like a happy one, and I’m curious.